Chapter 11: The Baptism

Chapter 11: The Baptism

The fact that Jesus had for so many years remained in obscurity, giving no special evidence of His mission, gave occasion for doubt as to whether He could be the Promised One. The Baptist, however, waited in faith, believing that in God's own time all would be made plain. It had been revealed to him that the Messiah would seek baptism at his hands, and that a sign of His divine character should then be given.
--When Jesus came to be baptized, John recognized in Him a purity of character that he had never before perceived in any man.

--As Jesus asked for baptism, John drew back, exclaiming, "I have need to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me?" With firm yet gentle authority, Jesus answered, "Suffer it to be so now: for

thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." And John, yielding, led the Savior down into the Jordan, and buried Him beneath the water. "And straightway coming up out of the water," Jesus "saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit like a dove descending upon Him." Matthew 3:14-17.
*Jesus did not receive baptism as a confession of guilt on His own account. He identified Himself with sinners, taking the steps that we are to take, and doing the work that we must do.
--Of the vast throng at the Jordan, few except John discerned the heavenly vision. Yet the solemnity of the divine Presence rested upon the assembly. The people stood silently gazing upon Christ. His form was bathed in the light that ever surrounds the throne of God.
--By sin, earth was cut off from heaven, and alienated from its communion; but Jesus has connected it again with the sphere of glory. "These things saith He that is holy, He that is true, He that hath the key of David, He that openeth, and no man shutteth; and shutteth, and no man openeth; . . . behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it." Revelation 3:7, 8.

And the word that was spoken to Jesus at the Jordan, 

"This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased," 

embraces humanity. God spoke to Jesus as our representative.

Matthew 3:17